MX23RW : Friday, April 26 23:57:18| >> :120:16055:16055:

Can anyone rival Teemu Pukki as Norwich City's player of the season?

The Sports Mole team select who they believe has been Norwich City's player of the season so far - can anyone rival Teemu Pukki?

Norwich City have endured a difficult 2019-20 campaign, with last season's Championship winners looking destined for an immediate return to the second tier.

Daniel Farke's side sit bottom of the Premier League table, six points adrift of safety with only nine games of the season remaining.

There have been some high points, though, most notably a famous 3-2 win over Manchester City at Carrow Road.

The Canaries have also taken points off the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and Everton this season, but their overall tally of 21 points from 29 games has left them cut adrift at the bottom.

Here, the Sports Mole team select who they believe has been their player of the season.



Barney Corkhill, Editor: Teemu Pukki

Teemu Pukki celebrates scoring from the spot for Norwich City on January 18, 2020© Reuters

Despite their league position, Norwich have had a few players who have enjoyed good individual seasons and both Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendia deserve honourable mentions. For me, though, it is impossible to look past Teemu Pukki.

The striker's goals during the early months of the season - he scored six times in the opening five games - gave Norwich some of their best moments of the campaign so far and provided real belief that they could hold their own in the division.

Pukki's form has tailed off since that explosive start, but he has still netted 44% of Norwich's goals this term - the highest proportion of any player in the Premier League. His 11 goals, including strikes against all of the top four, have earned Norwich 11 points, which is more than half of their overall tally.

Without those goals they would be 17 points from safety and still facing the possibility of recording the Premier League's lowest-ever points tally.



Matt Law, Football Editor: Teemu Pukki

Teemu Pukki in action for Norwich City on February 1, 2020© Reuters

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough season for Norwich, who are currently bottom of the Premier League table, six points behind 17th-placed Watford on the same number of games.

The Canaries have had some impressive performers this term, though, namely Todd Cantwell, who has provided six Premier League goals from midfield. It is tough to look past Pukki, though, considering his contribution in a struggling side.

Indeed, the 30-year-old has managed 11 top-flight goals in 28 outings, netting against the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur. What's more, he has managed 34 shots on target in the Premier League this term, which is a total only bettered by Jamie Vardy, Raul Jimenez, Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Salah.

The Finland international has certainly proved his class at this level, and it will be very, very difficult for Norwich to keep hold of him regardless of whether they manage to avoid relegation.



Darren Plant, Senior Reporter: Teemu Pukki

Teemu Pukki in action for Norwich City on December 14, 2019© Reuters

Despite netting just two goals since the turn of the year, Teemu Pukki's form during the first half of the campaign has given Norwich City a chance of retaining their Premier League status for another 12 months.

While the Finland international has 11 goals and three assists in total, man-of-the-match showings against Newcastle United and Manchester City got the ball rolling for the Canaries after their promotion from the Championship, with further crucial strikes coming in draws against Arsenal and Leicester City.

The 28-year-old has not always showcased his true ability, but his presence in the final third has kept opposition backlines on alert throughout the 90 minutes.



Dan Lewis, Senior Reporter: Teemu Pukki

Norwich City's Teemu Pukki celebrates his hat-trick with the match ball after the match against Newcastle on August 17, 2019© Reuters

Honourable mentions should be given to Todd Cantwell and Tim Krul, but you cannot look any further than Teemu Pukki for Norwich's shining light in a fairly forgettable campaign.

The Finland international top scored in the Championship last season and has followed that up with 11 goals in his debut Premier League season.

The goals may have dried up somewhat in the second half of the campaign, but Norwich could well have already been relegated if not for his sublime early-season form.



Ben Knapton, Reporter: Teemu Pukki

Teemu Pukki celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Norwich City and Manchester City on September 14, 2019© Reuters

In many ways, it has been a campaign to forget for Norwich, but a few players have certainly stood out for the Canaries under Daniel Farke.

Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendia have reportedly attracted interest from some of England's top clubs, and rightly so, but Teemu Pukki's outstanding form in front of goal means that he is Norwich's player of the season for me.

The Finland international has proved that he is every inch a Premier League player with 11 goals and three assists, impressive statistics for his first campaign in the English top flight.

ID:398304: cacheID:398304:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9159:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Teemu Pukki in action for Norwich City on December 14, 2019
Read Next:
Norwich City's most valuable players
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1pm
Bublik
Carballes Baena
10am
Auger-Aliassime
Mannarino
10am
Bautista Agut
Khachanov
10am
Cachin
Tiafoe
10am
De Minaur
Nadal
10am
Dimitrov
Mensik
10am
Jarry
Cobolli
10am
Kecmanovic
Ruud
10am
Kotov
Thompson
10am
Lehecka
Medjedovic
10am
Machac
Shelton
10am
Medvedev
Arnaldi
10am
Monteiro
Tsitsipas
10am
Norrie
Fonseca
10am
Purcell
Korda
10am
Sinner
Sonego
10am
Azarenka
Sorribes Tormo
10am
Annie Fernandez
Jabeur
10am
Gauff
Yastremska
10am
Haddad Maia
Navarro
10am
Keys
Samsonova
10am
Ostapenko
Lourdes Carle
10am
Stephens
Sakkari
10am
Swiatek
Cirstea
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
2Leeds UnitedLeeds45279980413990
3Ipswich TownIpswich432611685533289
4Southampton442591085612484
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4420121267442372
6Norwich CityNorwich442191477611672
7Hull City441912136556969
8Coventry CityCoventry4317121468551363
9Middlesbrough44189176460463
10Preston North EndPreston44189175661-563
11Cardiff CityCardiff44195205061-1162
12Bristol City441611175147459
13Sunderland44168205251156
14Swansea CitySwansea441511185762-556
15Watford441217155958153
16Queens Park RangersQPR451411204557-1253
17Millwall441411194355-1253
18Stoke CityStoke441311204460-1650
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn441310215874-1649
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth441212205869-1148
21Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds44138233968-2947
22Birmingham CityBirmingham441210224864-1646
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield44917184774-2744
RRotherham UnitedRotherham44412283285-5324


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!